Using a language other than French

On June 1, 2022, the Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec, was assented to. This new legislation, to which we are subject, amends the Charter of the French Language and establishes French as the sole official language in Québec. It also establishes the State’s duty of exemplarity.

Our communications are generally in French. The special directive on the use of a language other than French (PDF – in French) describes the situations in which we can use another language.

Exceptions

Following are the main situations in which we can use a language other than French in our interactions with electors.

We can use another language with people who have been deemed eligible to receive instruction in English and with Indigenous people, among others.

Before using a language other than French, we must check if the person we are communicating with belongs to one of these groups. This validation process is based on the statements and good faith of the people with whom we are communicating. 

Communication with citizens

Oral communications

If a person addresses us in a language other than French orally (at a polling place, for example), we can use that other language to check whether they belong to one of the groups covered by the exceptions.

If the person is not covered by any exception, the conversation continues in French.

If the person is covered by an exception and does not appear to understand French, we can continue the communication in another language.

Written communications

If a person covered by an exception does not understand our written communication in French, they can ask us if they can receive the information in another language. 

Website

All content on the Élections Québec website is accessible in French. 

The core content of the website is translated into English to inform people covered by exceptions and to provide them with services. Certain website content is exclusively in French and cannot be translated: 

• Information on available positions;
• Content relating to the operations and administrative structure of Élections Québec, including its organizational chart;
• Content intended for legal persons and businesses established in Québec.

On English-language pages, a banner informs the user that the Charter of the French Language governs the viewing of content in that language. This banner is located at the bottom of each page and at the top of the home page.

Social media

The messages we post on our social media are in French.

If we answer a question on social media, we do so in French, even if the question was asked in another language.

Advertising and signage

Advertisements intended for the French-language media in Québec are produced and disseminated in French. However, we can produce an advertisement in another language if it is to be disseminated in media in that language, such as an English-language newspaper.

We use French exclusively on our public signage.

Talks, speeches, information sessions, and public events 

Élections Québec staff use French when giving talks and speeches and when giving training or information sessions.

We can use a language other than French in certain circumstances, particularly at events involving international organizations or ministries from other provinces that do not have French as an official language.

Information sessions intended for natural persons are given in French, unless they fall within one of the exceptions provided for in the Charter or its regulations (for example, if the session is intended to provide services exclusively to people with whom the civil administration may use a language other than French).

Interactive voice response system 

People who contact our information centre via telephone can use a menu option in the interactive voice response system to inform us that they wish to communicate with us in a language other than French. This option is available at the end of the French-language welcome message.

Publications and documentation

We prepare our forms, guides, and other information documents in French. Some documents may be published in another language, in addition to French, and distributed upon request.

Democracy education

Educational institutions 

Upon request, we can offer democracy education activities in English to educational institutions under the jurisdiction of English-language school boards. 

We can provide educational materials in English for students at English schools participating in democracy education activities. However, the preparation materials we provide to school staff are only available in French. 

Service organizations 

Educational documents distributed to organizations that provide services to the public (popular education, literacy, francization, reception and assistance for immigrants, etc.) are written in French.  

An English version of certain documents is available upon request.

Preparation materials for staff, to make it easier to run workshops, are distributed in French. Materials intended for participants can be provided in another language, upon request. We can run a workshop in a language other than French if the participants belong to one of the groups covered by the exceptions. Otherwise, we run workshops in French. 

Small polling stations 

The question we ask young electors who visit the small polling stations during elections is in French.

Accountability under the Charter of the French Language

Data as of March 31, 2026